Pressing machine



1,- 14942. v H. D. FoRsE 2,303,347

PRESS ING MACHINE l 3%@ AT; f6

VH; D. FORSE PRESSING MACHINE Filed Juiy 1s, 1938 2 sheets-sheetv 2 INVENTOR /fmrxr ,27. Folesf. BY

ff ATT RNEY.

Patented Dec. l, 1942 NETE@ iirpi'i FFICE Harry D. Forse, Anderson, Ind. Applica/tion July 16, i938, Serial NOI. 219,546

(Cl. 38-v-36) 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a press for laundry and dry cleaning establishments.

The chief object of this invention is to provide a-press with mechanism whereby the cooperating pressing parts are positionable in pressing relation and in released relation by hand operation and more especially the locking and pressure is capable of application in one operation.

,A press of this character requires no supplei mentary source of power, such as air or steam pressure nor does it require another source of power such as a motor, thereby reducing installation, maintenance and operation costs.

The chief feature of the invention consists in providing a press with mechanism of relatively simple character which can be readily operable by hand and which can be adjusted for any desired pressure application and which has the operating characteristics and all the advantages before mentioned.

Another feature of the invention consists in a multiple lever arrangement having a toggle type connection therebetween.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear more fully hereinafter.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a press embodying the invention, the parts being shown in the pressing position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the lever operating parts of the invention.

Figure 3 is a partial side elevational View on a slightly reduced scale, and illustrating the relation of the parts when the press is in open position.

In the drawings I0 indicates a foot structure which is provided with a counterbalance spring anchorage II and suitably secured to the central portion of said foot structure and extending upwardly therefrom is a pedestal I2 of any suitable outline and the same supports at its upper end a base portion I3 which is provided with a rearwardly and upwardly and outwardly inclined frame structure I4 provided with spaced portions Ida, each of which includes a pair of openings I5 Iand I6, these openings in the two spaced portions I 4a being aligned and constituting pivot bearings for levers hereinafter to be described.

Suitably secured as at I'I is a buck support I8 of any conventional character, which in turn supports a buck i9. Suitably supported by mechanism hereinafter to be described and in super-.

posed relation relative to the buck I9 is ya cooperating pressing head 2D carried 'by a support portion, in turn carried by the main lever, to which reference will be had shortly.

In order to protect as well as support the garments being handled by the press, there is provided an apron structure 22 of any suitable conformation and the same terminates in a forwardly and downwardly directed marginal portion 22a for operator protection. The apron 22 may be suitably secured as at 23 either to the buck structure I3 or directly to the base I3, as desired, or to the frame structure I4, whichever is the most convenient, or to all of same, as desired.

The buck and head may have suitable connections to air and steam pressure, if the press is to be an all purpose press, as is well understood in the industry. rIhe invention, however, is not directed to the aforesaid but is directed to the operating mechanism whereby the head is caused to move into position immediately adjacent the buck and is then caused to exert pressure on the garment between the buck and the head and is held in that position until it is released and upon release and following initiatory return movement, manually effected, the head structure may be raised to what may be termed the open position through the counterbalancing arrangement, hereinafter t0 be described, or by any other suitable means.

Referring more especially to the upper portion of Fig. 1 and to Fig. 2, it will be noted that the head supporting lever includes near the right hand end-see Fig. 2-a pair of spaced arm portions E. These arm portions include a pair of aligned socket type pivots 25 adjacent the end. At the end there is provided a pair of aligned sockets 26. The same is adapted to seat the opposite ends of a shaft 21 `and each end of the shaft is drilled and tapped as at 28 to receive the threaded portion of a bolt 29, the head of which bears on a retaining washer 3l). In this manner the shaft 28 is suitably secured at each end between the two spaced portions 24 of the head supporting lever and at one end thereof.

A suitable shaft means 3 I-see Fig. 2-is seated in the sockets 25 and is mounted in the openings I5 of the frame structure I4. It will thus be notedsee Fig. l-that the extreme end of the portions 24 of the head supporting lever project rearwardly beyond the frame structure I4.

A spring 32 has its lower end, which is in the form of a partial loop, secured or anchored in the opening II in the foot structure. The upper end of this spring is suitably secured to an anchor member, see Fig. 1, 33 apertured as at 34 to threadedly receive the threaded stem of the elongated bolt having the head portion 36. A locking nut 31 cooperating with the spring anchor member 33 adjusts the effective length of the counterbalancing spring arrangement and also adjusts the force thereof, the greater the length of the tension spring per se the greater being the counterbalancing force exerted on the head supporting lever. The shaft 21 previously mentioned, is suitably apertured as at 38 and the portion 35 of the elongated bolt structure extends through this opening and the head portion 36 of said bolt bears on the shaft. A washer, if desired, may be interposed between the bolt head and the shaft.

The two spaced portions 24 of the head supporting lever are joined or suitably connected together as at 39 and projecting oppositely therefrom are two arm portions 40, and the same form a suitable anchorage for connecting the head support 2| to the head operating lever, as shown in Fig. 2. The central portion 39 of the head supporting lever is suitably apertured and medianly as at 4| and this aperture is threaded.

Another lever structure, angular in elevation, see Fig. 1, is also provided and it includes two side Wall portions 42, see Fig. 2, from which at the vertex of the angularity projects two apertured bosses 43 apertured as at 44, see Fig. 1. portion of the lever at the right hand end is indicated by the numeral 45 and connects the two side portions 42 and this portion is suitably apertured as at 46, see Fig. 1. The portion 45 is nestable between the two arm portions 24. The opposite end of this pressure adjusting toggle lever is indicated by the numeral 41 and connects the other ends of the side members 42 together. Provided therein is an opening 48.

A threaded stem 49-see Fig. l-mounts at its upper end, a handwheel 50 and is threaded in the opening 4| in the head supporting lever. It projects through and beyond said lever and has its lower end extended through the opening 48 and on its lower end mounts a retaining member in jv the form of a nut 5|. l

Interposed between the portion 41 and the boss portion 4| and concentric with the member 49, is a spring 52, the force of which is adjusted by means of a collar 53 locked on said member 49 as at 54. The collar is threaded and can be readily raised and lowered when the locking member 54 is released. f

A hand lever, see Fig. 2, includes two side portions 55 which at their outer and forward end,

are apertured as at 56 and mounted therebetween is a handle portion 51 which is provided for operator engagement. The side portions are suitably connected intermediate their ends as at 53. The opposite ends of the side portions 55 are suitably connected together as at 59 and the same are apertured as at 6|] to receive a. shaft 6|. The shaft 6| has its ends seatable in the openings I6 in the frame structure I4. This constitutes the pivotal support for the hand lever. It will be noted -see Fig. l-that the side portions 55 extend upwardly and terminate in the connecting portion 59. f

Positioned slightly forwardly of said portion 59 and below the same, are two inwardly directed bosses 62 apertured as at 63. In eiect, therefore, the hand lever structure is T-shaped in elevation.

An open, rectangularly shaped link 64 is suitably connected as at 65 at its upper end to the bosses 62 and at its lower end as at 66 to the boss The body portions 43 of the toggle lever structure previously described. It will be noted that the toggle lever structure lies within the outline area of the opening in the head supporting lever and the handle lever lies within the outline area of the head operating lever. The frame lies within the same while the link lies Within the outline area of the hand lever, see Fig. 2.

The operation of the device is as follows: After the various lever structures are associated together as described, and the counterbalancing is adjusted, the toggle structure is adjusted by means of hand wheel 50 so that the desired pressure is effected between the buck and the head when the handle lever is in the position shown in Fig. 1. It will be noted this toggle structure does have a yielding connection by means of the spring 52. The pressing and holding position is the oncenter position of the toggle structure, described, and Fig. l illustrates the parts in that position. It might be slightly overcenter but this departure beyond center is very slight. When the desired pressing interval has elapsed, the operator lifts the hand lever which breaks the toggle joint, as it were, and the hand lever moves upwardly and rearwardly, and the head supporting lever also moves upwardly and rearwardly by means of its counterbalance and the toggle connection continues its collapsing movement. The range of angular travel is such, as the parts are herein illustrated, that the hand lever has greater angular movement than the head supporting lever and by reason of the adjustable toggle connection, any desired pressure within the range of the adjustment can be obtained between the head and buck.

The open work character of the handle lever permits the hand wheel 5i) to nest within the handle lever opening when the handle lever is positioned immediately adjacent the head supporting lever. The handle lever construction is apertured as at 10 and in said aperture may be suitably mounted -a cushion or bumper structure 1| so that the hand lever has cushion contact with the head supporting lever when the parts are in the pressing and holding position, as shown in Fig. 1. This cushion construction may be of any suitable character.

Mounted upon the inner face of each arm |4a is a bumper 8| for engagement .by shaft 21 upon movement of the head into open press position.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in great detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in char'- acter.

The several modifications described herein as well as others which will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this art, all are considered to be within the broad scope of the invention, reference being had to the appended claims.

The invention claimed is:

1. In a pressing machine, the combination of a xed frame; a buck mounted thereon; a head lever pivotally mounted on the said frame; a

pressing head mounted on the said head lever above the said buck; a toggle-adjusting lever pivotally mounted on the said frame, having its piv otal axis coincident with the pivotal axis of the said head lever; `a hand wheel operatively connected to the forward end of the said toggle-adjusting lever and having its threaded shank operatively connected to the said head lever, for adjustably securing the said toggle-adjusting lever to the said head lever; an operating handle pivotally mounted on the`said frame above the pivotal axis of the said head lever, land having a projection extending downwardly toward the said toggle-adjusting lever; and a link pivotally secured to the lower end of the said projection, and having its other end pivotally secured to the said toggle-adjusting lever, the said link and said projection acting as a toggle device for retaining the said pressing head in pressing relation with the said buck.

2. In a pressing machine, the combination of a fixed frame; a buck mounted thereon; a head 1ever pivotally mounted on the said frame; a pressing head mounted on the said lever above the said buck; a toggle-adjusting lever pivotally mounted on the said frame having its pivotal axis coincident with the axis of the said head lever, and having its forward end adiustably secured to the said head lever; an operating handle pivotally mounted on the said frame above the pivotal axis of the said head lever, and having a pro-jection extending downwardly toward kthe said toggleadjusting lever; and a link pivotally secured to the lower end of the said projection, and having its opposite end operatively connected to the said toggle-adjusting lever, the said projection and said link constructed and arranged to act as a toggle connection for retaining the said pressing head in operative relation with the said buck.

3. In a pressing machine, the combination of a fixed frame; a buck mounted thereon; a head lever pivotally mounted on the said frame; a pressing head mounted on the said head lever above the said buck; a hand lever pivotally mounted on the said frame; a toggle eonnection between the head lever and the said hand lever, one element of the toggle connection including an arm pivotally mounted on the said frame and having its pivotal axis (zo-incident with the axis of one of the' aforesaid levers; means adjustably securing the said arm to the said one lever, whereby the said arm may be adjusted relative to the said one lever for regulating the pressure exerted by the pressing head upon the said buck; and means operatively associated with the said adjusting means providing a yielding connection between the hand lever and the said head lever.

4. In a pressing machine, the combination of a fixed frame; a buck mounted on the said frame; a head lever pivoted to the said frame upon a stationary pivot; a pressing head mounted upon the said head lever above the said buck; an arm pivoted to the said frame at the said stationary pivot pin; a first link pivoted at one of its ends to the said arm; a second link pivoted at one of its ends to the other end of the said rst link, and at the other of its ends to the said frame, the said first and second links forming a toggle linkn age; means operatively associately with the said head lever and the said arm, for adjusting the said arm relative to the said head lever, thereby to regulate the pressure applied by the toggle linkage upon the said head lever, when the said linkage is moved into toggle relation and the said,

pressing head is moved into pressing relation with the said buck; and operating means operatively associated with the said toggle linkage, for moving the same into andout of toggle relation, thereby to move the said pressing head into and out of pressing relation with the said buck.

5. In a pressing machine, the combination of a fixed frame; a buck mounted thereon; a shaft mounted upon the said frame; a head lever rotatm ably mounted upon the said shaft; a pressing head mounted upon the said head lever above the said buck; an' arm rotatably mounted up'on'the said shaft and adapted to rotate substantially in the plane of rotation of the saidv head lever; means adjustably securing the said arm to the said head lever, and under the control of an operator, for adjusting the angular relation of the arm relative to the said head lever; a hand lever pivotally mounted upon the said frame and adapted `to be actuated by the operator; and a toggle connection between the said hand lever and the said arm, the said toggle connection adapted to rotate the said head lever in response to actuation of the said hand lever and to retain the pressing head in pressing relation with the buck.

6. In a pressing machine, the combination of a fixed frame; a head-carrying lever pivoted to the said frame upon a stationary pivot; an arm pivoted to the said frame at the said stationary pivot; means for applying pressure to the said head carrying lever, said means being interposed between the said arm and a fixed portion of the said frame; and means operatively associated with the arm and the said head-carrying lever, and under the control of an operator, for adjusting the angular relation of the said arm relative to the said head carrying lever.

7- In a pressing machine, the combination of a xed frame; a buck mounted thereon; a head lever pivotally mounted upon the said frame; a bell crank pivotally mounted upon the said frame above the said head lever, one leg of the said crank extending forwardly in a generally horizontal direction and adapted to be actuated by an operator, and the other leg of the said bell crank extending downwardly and forwardly relative to the pivotal axis thereof; and a link disposed in toggle relation with the other leg of the said crank and having one end pivotally secured to the said other leg of the bell crank, and its opposite end pivotally secured to the said head lever, thereby to operate the said head lever in response to actuation of the said one leg of the bell crank.

8. In a pressing machine, the combination of a xed frame; a buck mounted thereon; a shaft mounted upon the said frame; a head lever rotatably mounted upon the said shaft; a pressing head mounted upon the said head lever above the said buck; an arm rotatably mounted upon the said shaft and adapted to rotate substantially in the plane of rotation of the said head lever; means adjustably securing the said arm to the said head lever, and under the cont-rol of an operator, for adjusting the angular relation of the arm relative to the said head lever; a bell crank pivotally mounted upon the said frame and above the said head lever, one leg of the said crank extending forwardly in a generally horizontal direction and adapted to be actuated by an operator, and the other leg of the said bell crank extending downwardly towards the said arm; and a link disposed in toggle relation with the other leg of the said crank and having one end pivotally secured to the said other leg of the bell crank, the said link naving its opposite end pivotally secured to the said arm. thereby to operate the said head lever in response to actuation of the said one leg of the bell crank, and to retain the pressing head in pressing relation with the said buck.

9. In a pressing machine, the combination of a fixed frame, a buck mounted thereon; a head lever pivotally mounted upon the said frame; a pressing head mounted upon the said head lever above the'said buck; an operating handle pivotally mounted upon the said frame above the pivotal axis of the said head lever, and having a leg extending downwardly from the pivotal axis of the said handle and towards the said head lever; and a link having one end thereoi pivotally secured to the lower end of the said leg,

and having its opposite end pivotally secured lever, the said handle having a leg extendingI downwardly and forwardly from the pivotal axis thereof, and towards the said head lever; and a link having one end thereof pivotally secured to the lower end of the said leg, and having its opposite end pivotally secured to the said head lever intermediate the pivotal connection thereof and the pressing head mounted thereupon, the said leg and said link acting as a toggle device for retaining the said pressing head in pressing relation with the said buck.

.11, In a pressing machine, the combination of a fixed frame; a buck mounted thereon; a head lever pivotally mounted on the said frame; a pressing head mounted on the head lever above the said buck; an operating handle pivotally mounted on the said frame above the pivotal axis of the said head lever and adapted to be actuated by an operator, the said handle having a projection substantially adjacent the pivotal axis thereof and extending downwardly toward the said head lever; and a link operatively connecting the said projection and the said head lever for moving the pressing head into pressing relation with the said buck in response to actuation of the said handle, the said link and the said projection having a toggle relation one with the other and moving into toggle relation simultaneously with the movement of the pressing head into pressing relation with the said buck for retaining the same in the aforesaid pressing relation.

HARRY D. FORSE. 

